Float-control mechanism



Oct. 26 19260 1,604,417

w. H. WINEMAN FLIOAT CONTROL MECHANISM Original Filed Jan. 10. 1.921

I 1. If A L/Z Patented Oct. 26, 1926,

hairs srarss mean? orrics.

WADE I-I. WINEMAN, OIE CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSZGNOR '10 SULLlIVAN MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPGRATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

FLOAT-CONTROL MECHANISM.

Application filed January 10, 1921, Serial No. 436,216. Renewed December 22, 1923.

My invention relates to float control mechanisms and more especially to float control mechanisms for use with air lift pump boosters.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved float control mechanism. Another object of my invention is to provide an improved float control mechanism for valves. A further object of my invention is to provide an improved float control mechanism for use in cooperation with an air lift booster and adapted to regulate the escape of pressure fluid therefrom.

ln the accompanying drawings, I have shown for purposes of illustration one form which my invention may assume in practice.

In these drawings,

Fig. 1 is a central vertical sect-ion through a booster provided with my improved float control mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 through the booster and float control cooperating therewith.

It is a well-known fact that where a booster of an air lift pumping system is to have the air vent thereof connected to the intake of the compressor, an arrangement desirable in many instances, some mechanism must be provided to prevent flooding the booster and a resultant passing of. water into the compressor intake and cylinder, with the accompanying liability of great damage through the knocking off of the compressor cylinder heads and in other ways.

' In boosters of the type in which thedischarge from the riser pipe is directed against an umbrella or against the top of the booster casing and in which separation of the air from the water is accomplished primarily by a baffling action, it has been customary to arrange in suitable guides a float directly in the booster proper and to control the air discharge valve from a booster by the water level, closing the valve as the water level becomes high and opening as it drops. This location of the float was entirely satisfactory in a booster of this type in view of the fact that there was no continuous circulation of the water in any special path and accordingly the presence of the float would in no wise interfere with the successful use of the booster. With the introduction, however,

of my improved centrifugal type of booster described in my copending application Ser. No. 314,103, by reason of the fact that there is a rapid circulation of water in a particular course, the former type of valve control was found to be more or less impracticable by reason of the fact that the location of the float in the interior of the booster proper materially interfered with both the accurate actionof the float and with the circulation.

In the illustrative embodiment of my in vention, the booster is generally indicated by 1, the booster being provided with a tangential inlet 2 at its upper end and a tangential discharge 3 adjacent its bot-tom. The upper end of the booster casing is closed by a cover 1 in the center portion of which I arrange a discharge chamber '5 closed at its top by a cover plate 6, and in the central portion of the latter is secured, in a suitable manner, herein threadedly, an air discharge valve casing 7 containing a downwardly seating valve 8 which is normally held seated by a spring 9 whose tension may be adjusted by a threaded plug 1.0 abutting against the upper end of the spring. The valve casing 7 has an external chamber 11 from which a pipe 12 leads off to any suitable point. This pipe 12 may, as described above, be connected to a compressor intake whereby economy of air and of power may be accomplished.

It will be understood that the size of these parts will be suitably proportioned to the quantity of air to be discharged. Within the discharge chamber 5 is arranged a bell crank lever 18 pivoted adjacent onc. side of the chamber and having its longer arm 14 connected by a link 15 to the lower end of the valve stem 16 whereby upon downward movement of the arm 14, the valve may be seated and discharge therefrom closed. The vertical arm 17 of the bell crank lever is disposed in alinement with a passage 18 extend ing through a horizontally disposed boss 19 formed on the cover 4 of the booster casing and within the passage 18'is disposed a rod 20 adapted to engage the arm 17 of the bell crank and to force it to the right upon move ment of the rod 20 to the right, and thereby close the valve 8 against the pressure within the booster. Cooperating with the rod 20 and adapted to move it in a direction to close the valve 8 when the water level within the booster reaches a predetermined height is my improved float control mechanism which is generally designated 21. This comprises a casing 22; closed at its bottom and provided t, itsit'op' with cover plate 22','the casing being provided with a lateral inlet 24 connected to the booster casing adjacent the lower end thereof, and with the opening 25 communicatingv with the passage 18 and so with the upper portion of the booster casing proper. It will thus be obvious that the level of the liquid in the booster-casing will determine the level of the liquid in the 0215- ing 22. I have accordingly; provided within the casing 22 a float 23, providing the latter with a sten1'28" projecting vertically therefrom and pivotedly secured by a member 26 to the horizontal arm 26 of the bell crank lever 27 pivoted at 28 to the Wall of the casing 22 and having its vertical arm 29' in en gagement with the rod 20.

From the foregoing description, the mode of operation of my improved float control mechanism will be readily apparent. Since the liquid level in the casing 22 varies with the liquid level in the booster casing lthe. position of the'float will vary with the liquid level in the booster proper and accordingly as the booster iills totoo great a height, the lioat will rise and acting through the bell crank 27, the rod 20', and the bell crank 13, Will cause the valve 8 to close in opposition to the booster pressure As the level in the booster decreases the level of the liquid in the casing 22 will decrease and the valve 8 will be released from the control of the bell cranks 27 and 13 and may open, under the action of the pressure within the booster and the suction of the compressor, to a sufficient dc cc to permit discharge of the air at a suliici-ently rapid rate to prevent the liquid level within the booster falling so low as to uncover the discharge passage 3 to the escape of air. It will be noted that by virtue of the position of my float, it is removed from all possible interference with the circulation of the liquid in the booster casing 1, while yet all the effects of varying liquid levclin the booster casing are felt by the float. It will thus be seen that an accurate control of the pressure and liquid level within the booster of my improved centrifugal type is obtained without interference in an manner with the efficient operation of the latter.

While I have in this application specifically described one form which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes ofillustration and that" the invention may be modified and embodied in other forms without departing from its spiritor the scope of the appended claims.

What I claiinas and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

1. The coinbinatien with aliquid pumping system, of a booster c ef theeentrifiwal p e for separating air and liquid, va v'e r o-ceharging ai r directly from said booster, =and-- means epratrve 'toveelfitrol the-150$? tion of said valve without interference with the separating action of the booster.

In combination with a booster of the centrifugal type, an air discharge valve disposed in the top of said booster, and means located outside of said booster but governed by the conditions therein for controlling the position of said valve.

The" combination with a booster of the centrifugal separator type, of an air dis charge valve disposed substantially in the central top portion of said booster, and means cooperating therewith to control the position thereof comprising a float subjected to the lifting action of the liquid within the booster but positioned'to avoid interference with the circulation within the booster.

The combination with a liquid pumping. system, of a booster of the centrifugal separator type, of means for controlling the level therein comprising a valve controlling the air pressure thereln, said valve being adapted to discharge air directly from said booster, actuating, means for said valve, and a float mechanism comprising a chamber communicating with the interior of said booster above the maximum and below the minimum liquid levels therein, a float in said casing, and means controlled by the position of said float for actuating said air controlled valve.

5. The combination with a booster of the centrifugal separator type, of means for con trolling the liquid level therein, comprising a valve arranged in the top of said booster and adapted by variations in its position to control the pressure within said booster, and means for varying the position of said valve coin-prising a float chamber communicating with said booster above the maximum and below the minimum liquid level therein, a float in said chamber, and means comprising a series of bell cranks'and connecting means therebetween for varying the position of said valve.

6. In combination with a booster of the centrifugal type, an air discharge valve, disposed in"- the top of said booster, and means located outside of said booster, but governed by the liquid level therein, for controlling said air discharge valve.

7. In a' separator mechanism, in combination, a tank'having a tangential inlet and outlet and constituting means to separate a gas and a liquid, and means located outside of said tank to control the discharge of said gas and controlled by the level of said liquid, said means including an outlet so disposed that a vortex created by the liquid is substantia'lly below the outlet.

8; A gas-andliquid separator comprising a oasing, meansfor-efiecting rotation therein of arstieam made up ofa' mixture of gas Mid 'andsepejzrate xneans for dischargliquid directly tram casing, said gas discharge being provided with controllin means disposed outside of said casing and governed by the liquid discharge.

9. In combination with a liquid pumping system, of a receiving tank, means adapted to discharge a falling stream of liquid therein, a receptacle communicating with said tank, and liquid level controlling means associated with said receptacle made operative by the liquid in said tank, said controlling means including a valve mechanism carried within the top of said tank.

10. In combination with a liquid pumping system, of a receiving tank, means adapted to discharge a falling stream of liquid therein, a receptacle communicating with said tank, and liquid level controlling means including a hollow member associated with said receptacle and made operative by the liquid in said tank and a valve mechanism operated by said hollow member and carried within the top of said tank.

11. In combination with a liquid pumping system, of a receiving tank, means adapted to discharge a falling stream of liquid therein, a receptacle communicating with said tank, a hollow member disposed within said receptacle, a valve carried at the top of said tank, and actuating means therefor associated with said hollow member.

12. In combination with a liquid pumping system, of a receiving tank, means adapted to discharge a falling stream of liquid therein, a receptacle communicating with said tank, a hollow member disposed within said receptacle and movable relative thereto, a valve, and actuating means therefor con nected to said hollow member at the upper end thereof and adapted to close said valve when a predetermined amount of liquid is discharged into said tank.

13. In combination with a liquid pumping system, of a tank, means for effecting rotation therein of a stream of liquid, and means controlled by the liquid in said tank including a passage communicating with said tank and extending substantially radially therefrom, said means also including a valve mechanism carried within the top of said tank.

14. In combination, a booster of the centrifugal type, means controlled by the level of the liquid therein including a receptacle, and means for allowing communication thereof with said tank and to control flow of fluid into said receptacle, said fluid being subjected to centrifugal action, said means including a valve mechanism carried within the top of said tank.

15. In combination, a centrifugal booster adapted to form a vortex in the fluid discharged within said booster, valve means for controlling the discharge of gas from said booster so disposed that it lies over said vortex, and means for controlling said valve governed by the liquid in said booster and disposed out of the path of movement of the liquid.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

WADE H. W'INEMAN. 

